What is the Hives Meaning? Hives meaning is an outbreak of swollen, red, bumpy rash that appears on the surface of the skin either due to the reaction of the body to an allergen or for unknown reasons. Urticarial Lesions can be extremely itchy and spread across a large area of someone's body. It can appear on any part of the body like ears, arms, fingers, legs, hands, etc. They are mainly temporary and almost 20% of the world's population get affected by it in some part or the other of their life. There are many types of urticaria depending on the duration of stay on the body such as acute urticaria, chronic urticaria, dermatographic urticaria, or urticaria caused due to diseases such as thyroid, cancer, etc.

Causes of Hives

Since we have learned to define hives, let us look at the causes of hives. Hives occur when the body reacts to an allergen and releases high levels of histamine and other chemical messengers into the skin. In response to this histamine, blood vessels in the affected area open up and start to leak. The resulting fluid in the tissue causes swelling and itchiness. Some common food products like nuts, eggs, strawberries, wheat products, and food additives also trigger hives. Also, physical stimuli like sun exposure, exercise, water to the skin, latex, and certain medications give rise to hives. Pet dander from dogs, cats, horses, cockroaches, and cockroach wastes, some types of plants like poison oaks and poison ivy also causes this type of disease.

Symptoms of Hives

There is a range of itchy bumps on the skin that are usually red or pink. Rashes appear in several places in the body and can appear from minutes to hours.

It is important to find out the history of the hives in the patient's body. Doctors may carry out an allergy skin test and a blood test to determine the substance to which you are allergic. The goal of treatment is to relieve symptoms while the condition resolves itself. Antihistamine is usually prescribed by doctors to provide relief from the symptoms. They are taken for several weeks for relief. In some cases, wearing loose clothes and applying cold, damp cloths on the affected area can help.

The Common Triggers of Hives

There are some common triggers of hives in the human body.

The Common Triggers of Hives Include the Following:

An allergic reaction to food or medication
Infections including colds and viruses
Exercise
Stress
Cold temperature
Scratching the skin

The best remedy is to prevent the triggers of hives.

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Preventing The Triggers of Hives

To prevent the triggers of hives, the following things should be followed.

Take a bath with anti-itch solutions.
Avoid products that can irritate the skin.
Wear lightweight clothes and keep your room temperature low and comfortable.
You can use aloe vera and witch hazel as natural remedies.
You can use calamine lotion, Benadryl, Allegra, Zyrtec, etc.

When Should You Visit a Doctor for Hives?

If any of the mentioned symptoms of hives last longer than two days, you should consult a doctor. If you are suffering from dizziness, difficulty breathing, wheezing, tightness in the chest, swelling of lips and tongue, you should visit a doctor as early as possible. The doctor can analyze the exact cause of the symptoms and provide you with the treatment accordingly. Understanding the causes of hives is the key to prevent them in the future.

Diagnosis of Hives

There is no specific test for detecting hives. The doctor asks for the future medical history of the patient. According to the medical history, some skin tests, blood tests, and allergy tests can be done. Examining all the test reports and the medical history, hives are diagnosed.

Treatment of Hives

The most effective treatment process for hives is to detect the triggers and remove them. It is not an easy task to do. The doctors prescribe some specific medicines and remedies for removing the triggers. Antihistamines are the best to get relief from hives. If you have severe hives, you may have to take injections of epinephrine also.

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FAQs on Hives

1. How to Treat Hives in Children?

Answer: Although hives can be of different shapes and sizes, common signs of hives include slightly raised areas of red or pink in the skin. They occur alone or in large numbers in groups. Swollen skin is a common symptom of hives. It may occur for a minute or two and disappear but may again occur after some time. Hives in children are mainly temporary and harmless.

Following are Some Tips as Prescribed by Dermatologists to Take Care of Hives in Children:

Oral antihistamine must be used for children as prescribed by dermatologists. For additional relief, a cool washed cloth can be applied to the child's hive.
Children should avoid scratching the hive. Anti-itch cream containing menthol can be applied to it as directed by the doctor.
They should bathe in lukewarm water and limit the bath to 10 minutes. They should also use gentle, fragrance-free soap and avoid bubble baths and scented lotions.
Maintaining an environment for children is preferred with air conditioners in summers and humidifiers in winter.
Loose and cotton clothes must be worn by the child.

2. What are the Medications and Home Remedies for Removing Hives?

Answer: There are several medications and home remedies for removing hives prescribed by doctors.

The Most Effective Medications are-

Anti-Itch Drugs: Antihistamines are used as the standard treatment of hives. They remove swelling, itching, and other allergic symptoms.

Anti-Inflammatory Drugs: For severe hives, anti-inflammatory drugs are necessary such as corticosteroids. They reduce itching, swelling, and redness.

Drugs Suppressing the Immune System: If the anti-itch and anti-inflammatory drugs don't work, the doctors prescribe some drug that can calm an overactive immune system.

The Most Used Home Remedies for Hives are-